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What Dumpster Size Do You Need?

A dumpster rental can take care of all your waste management needs, whether you are cleaning before moving out, doing a major renovation, or just getting rid of junk. If you are renting a dumpster for the first time, you might be at crossroads on what size best suits your waste management needs. You want a dumpster that is neither too small nor too large to ensure you are paying the actual cost for your waste disposal. This article looks into the factors for selecting the right dumpster size and other things you need to know when renting a dumpster.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Dumpster Size

  • Type of Project
Construction trash dumpsters in an metal container, home house renovation.

The type of dumpster you need largely depends on the type of debris you want to dispose of. Dumpster rental companies provide special bins for different kinds of materials including dirt and concrete. For instance, if you are doing a whole-house renovation, the size of the container you need may be larger than if you only needed it for getting rid of furniture ahead of a move. It is necessary to determine your project scale before reaching out to a dumpster rental company.

  • Total Volume

Dumpster sizes are measured in yards and one cubic yard is equal to 5 or 6 13-gallon trash bags. The best way to anticipate the size of the dumpster to rent is to take inventory of items that will go into the dumpster. Pre-move cleanouts are one of the hardest jobs homeowners encounter when trying to figure out the dumpster size they need. You do not have to pull out everything just yet but instead, take an inventory of what you need to get rid of by going room-by-room or closet by closet. Think of whether your list includes bulky or large items and whether you will be cleaning up the house along with the yard.

  • Delivery Location

Most dumpster rental companies deliver their containers to the tightest locations every day. However, tight spaces mean you may require a smaller container to fit in the designated area. If you have limited space on your property, you can ask the dumpster rental company if they have a swap-out service. A swap-out service ensures you get ongoing debris removal, especially when you are generating high waste volumes in a short period.

How are Dumpster Sizes Calculated?

Dumpsters come in different sizes based on the debris weight and volume they can handle. The size of the container is measured in cubic feet while the volume is measured in cubic yards. Most dumpsters are often categorized based on how much debris they can carry. Some of the standard dumpster size categories include 10-yard (2 tons), 15-yard (3 tons), 20-yard (4 tons), 30-yard (4-5 tons), and 40-yard containers (5-6 tons). However, these numbers are not indicative of the length of the dumpster. That is to say, a 10-yard dumpster is not 10 yards long. This number only refers to the internal capacity of the container measured in cubic yards. You may incur more fees if your trash weight exceeds the limit.

It is important to check the container measurements to ensure it will fit perfectly in your garage or designated location. A 10-yard dumpster is one of the containers that shows the most variance in size. It can range from 11.4 ft. to 15 ft. in length, 6ft to 8ft in width, and 3ft to 5ft in height but all capable of holding the same 10 cubic yards of waste. Containers that are shorter in length are often taller and wider while longer dumpsters tend to be not as wide but shorter.

Consider the Weight of Debris

Besides the volume, it is also important to consider the weight of debris you will be disposing of in the dumpster. Different kinds of different will affect the overall weight of your garbage. For instance, bricks and concrete pieces will be heavier than branches or leaves taken from a landscaping project. You need to estimate the weight to avoid additional fees or overcharge when renting dumpsters.

No one knows how to anticipate the dumpster sizes better than the rental company. When choosing a local company to rent a container, it is important to ask if they conduct on-site inventories. Many of them will come to assess the delivery location, as well as your waste management requirements before making a recommendation on what suits your needs best. The ideal dumpster size should be large enough to carry all the weight and debris to be disposed of. It should also leave some room for unaccounted wastes, which is often unavoidable in most projects.